Ranchi, May 14: JVM chief Babulal Marandi has asked Governor Syed Ahmed to hold a high-level inquiry against the Hemant Soren government, alleging the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition recommended mining licences for a couple of companies when the model poll code was in force.

Leading a delegation to Raj Bhavan today, Marandi claimed that the state government’s decisions were benefiting certain sections of people at the behest of the poor.

Citing examples, the JVM chief said that on April 17, the second day of voting in Jharkhand, the Hemant government decided to recommend prospective licences for iron-ore mining to Jai Balajee Industrial Products Limited, Adhunik Group of Industries and Kohinoor Steel Private Limited.

Since April 17 was voting day in six parliamentary constituencies including Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Hazaribagh, it was a holiday, he claimed.

Marandi also questioned how the state government approved road construction projects worth over Rs 3,000 crore against a budgetary provision of Rs 2,400 crore during the current fiscal.

He referred to similar anomalies during the last fiscal, adding that the road construction department was headed by the chief minister himself.

“The Hemant Soren government has already lost majority support and, therefore, it cannot take major policy decisions at this juncture… that too when the model code of conduct is in force,” Marandi told The Telegraph later.

On awarding electricity distribution franchises to private companies in Ranchi and Jamshedpur, Marandi claimed the state power board, Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, would be incurring losses to the tune of at least Rs 20,000 crore in the next 17 years.

He cited problems in award of electricity distribution franchisee in rural areas too.

“In rural and semi-urban areas, people are doomed to pay fixed amounts as electricity charges every month since meters have not been installed in their houses. There is no power supply most of the time, but consumers are bound pay fixed charges. If they object, they have bear the torments of goons hired by private companies,” he alleged.

The JVM also demanded a CBI probe into the alleged involvement of senior police officials in illegal coal trade as the ongoing Vigilance Bureau probe was ineffective.

The vigilance inquiry, Marandi pointed out, was being headed by a DSP rank officer, who would not point a finger at his superiors.

Marandi said that instead of taking major policy decisions, the state government should concentrate on solving drinking water problems and other pressing issues concerning the common man.

Marandi said that a few days ago, he had requested the Governor to convene a special Assembly session and ask the Hemant Soren government to prove its majority on the floor of the House.